Contrary to popular belief, the winter months can be an excellent time to sell your home. The percentage of sales to listing go up considerably. One big reason is that there is less inventory of homes on the market. Many sellers are thinking about holiday planning and travel. By putting your home on the market in the winter, there's less competition because most people sell in the spring and summer. People also have time off work around the winter holidays, meaning more time to see homes. Buyers may be motivated too.
Whether you are considering selling your home now or in the future, the following suggestions can help you realize a bigger gain and a shorter selling time. It is important to trust your Realtor's insight and opinions.
Stage It Accordingly
One unique benefit of selling a home during the holidays is that you can use it to your advantage when staging. You can warm up space during the holidays, and that might make it easier for potential buyers to picture themselves there.
Add tasteful but simple holiday decorations. Don't go overboard and block the home's features.
Focus on the cozy features like the fireplace, and of course, it's a great time to use the classic real estate trick of baking cookies when someone comes for a showing. Make sure your home is warm temperature-wise too.
Clean-Up the Curb Appeal
Don't neglect curb appeal.
Keep walkways clutter-free, illuminate pathways, and make sure that there's a mat at the door so people coming to see your house can wipe their feet.
Price It Accordingly
Your listing agent can work with you to develop the right pricing strategy based on their data assessment. Many variables go into pricing. Your Realtor may suggest pricing a bit lower due to fewer people looking.
It's often better to price it right from the start instead of making price reductions later.
Work with a Reliable Agent
Be very clear with your agent about your communication expectations and how much they'll work during the holidays. When you're choosing an agent, you might ask them if they've ever sold a house during the holiday season before. Are they planning a vacation anytime soon?
Be Flexible About Showings
During the holiday season, everyone is busy and may have more plans than usual, but if you're selling your home, you need to be flexible and accessible when it comes to showings. It's a challenging time, so if someone wants to see your home, you need to do everything you can to facilitate that.
Focus on Expectations
If you can manage your expectations before you put a home on the marketing (especially during the holidays), it will help you stay more relaxed and hopefully help you sell your house faster.